The Daily Journal — U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States has received more than $13 billion from Venezuela since the military operation on January 3, when U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and took control of the country’s political leadership.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump argued that the funds obtained from Venezuela have more than covered the cost of the U.S. intervention.
“Thirteen billion dollars from Venezuela? I think it’s even more than that. Venezuela paid for that war many times over. And the same will happen with Iran. We paid for that war many times over,” Trump said when reporters asked about reports that Washington had received that amount of money.
Last week, the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration had collected more than $13 billion this year from the sale of Venezuelan oil but had not explained what happened to those funds.
“Washington has offered conflicting accounts of the money’s fate, ranging from an executive order describing its role as ‘custody’ to President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States was ‘making a lot of money’ from Venezuelan oil,” the publication reported.
When reporters again asked about the destination of those funds, Trump said the money helps finance U.S. government operations.
“We’re receiving a lot of money, billions and billions of dollars from Venezuela,” he said. “It will help fund the country. It can go to the military. Congress has to approve it,” he added.
The president also highlighted what he described as a shift in bilateral relations following the military operation.
“As you know, we now have a very good relationship with Venezuela,” Trump said.
Trump did not specify the source of the funds he referenced or explain the mechanism through which the United States is receiving them. He also did not clarify whether the money comes from the administration of Venezuelan assets, oil sales, or other operations authorized by his administration.
His remarks come as Washington expands its role in Venezuela’s economic management. In recent months, the U.S. administration has promoted changes to the sanctions regime, authorized new energy operations, and supported reforms to Venezuela’s legal framework for the oil sector.
